Norwich City ace Harry Darling shares aim for ‘special’ season ahead of ‘tough’ Middlesbrough clash

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Norwich City are targeting a top-six finish this season, with Middlesbrough next up for the Canaries.

Norwich City head into this weekend’s clash after gaining three points from a possible six in their first two games of the 2025/26 Championship season.

On opening weekend, Millwall beat Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road, but Liam Manning’s side registered their first league win under his stewardship with a 2-1 at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Upcoming opponents Middlesbrough have enjoyed a positive start in the league under Rob Edwards with a win over Swansea City and their 3-0 battering of Millwall last weekend.

Ahead of the clash, Norwich summer arrival Harry Darling has admitted that the Canaries want to do “something special this season”.

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Harry Darling wants to achieve ‘something special’ at Norwich City

Earlier in the summer window, EFL Analysis exclusively revealed that Norwich entered the race for Darling and shortly after, his move to Carrow Road was confirmed.

Former MK Dons duo Manning and Darling reunited at Norwich this summer, and the towering central defender has already shown this season why so many Championship sides were fighting for his signature.

Darling has played the full 90 minutes in both of Norwich’s league outings and the win over Watford in the Carabao Cup first round clash.

Norwich are tipped to finish 12th this season by the OPTA supercomputer predictions, but we at EFL Analysis believe Norwich will finish in the top-six come May and earn a spot in the 2025/26 Championship play-offs.

That sentiment is shared by Darling, who has admitted that the Canaries want to achieve “something special” this season.

When asked if Norwich can challenge for the play-offs, Darling told The Pink Un: “Yeah, I hope so.

“I think obviously, Norwich’s history they’ve always wanted to be there or thereabouts.

“Obviously, last season didn’t go as planned for one reason or another, but we feel like we’ve got a good squad this year.

“We really want to do something special, so hopefully during the course of the season we can do that.”

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Harry Darling predicts ‘tough’ game in Norwich City vs Middlesbrough

If Darling and the Canaries want to send an early marker of their intent at securing a top-six spot, then beating Middlesbrough would be a suitable place to start.

Caveated by the fact only two games have been played so far this season, Middlesbrough sit second in the table after two wins from their opening two games.

Edwards’ Boro remain one of only two sides, alongside Charlton Athletic, not to concede a goal yet in the 2025/26 Championship.

Therefore, Darling will be hoping to continue his scoring run after his deft header, which opened the floodgates at Fratton Park and opened his account for new club Norwich.

Ahead of the Middlesbrough visit, Dibling said: “They’re a really good team.

“Rob Edwards has gone in, and they’ve had a really good start under him, and it’s going to be a tough game, like every game is in the Champ (Championship).

“So we’re expecting a tough test, but hopefully we can come out on top.”